Bring your dog to the dorm? Some can at this Minnesota college next fall.

A small but lucky group of students at Gustavus Adolphus will be able to cuddle up with their dog or cat as they cram for exams this fall.

The private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minn., announced Jan. 29 that it will open a pet-friendly housing program on campus.

The pilot program will turn 15 units in Prairie View Hall into designated single rooms for students with a dog or cat.

The college is planning to build a fenced area for dogs to get fresh air as well as a waste station for kitty litter, said Charlie Potts, vice provost for student life and dean of students.

“Research shows students who like animals benefit from having their animals around them,” Potts said. “I am excited for students to have the opportunity to do what makes them happy.”

The pilot program began after students connected with Sofia, the dog belonging to John Volin, the college’s president. Students asked the college to consider allowing cats and dogs in residence halls.

“This pet-friendly housing option is one more way we’re advancing our commitment to student well-being and building a community that feels like home,” Volin said in a news release.

The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University, Mankato don’t allow pets in university buildings. Service animals and emotional-support animals are allowed under separate policies.

Gustavus has laid down rules in the hopes that the campus doesn’t become a zoo.

Each student can have one cat or dog. Pets must be at least a year old, spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations and well-behaved.

The pets cannot run wild in the building. Dogs must be on a leash outside students’ rooms, and cats must be held or in a secure carrier while moving through the hall, an explainer on the Gustavus website said.

The pets won’t be allowed in classrooms, libraries, labs, cafeterias or gyms. They also can’t go into the other dorms.

They must also prove they’ve lived with the pet for at least six months and that someone within 350 miles of campus can rush there to be an emergency caretaker if needed.

The pilot program will be reviewed annually, with a full evaluation in the third year before deciding whether to continue it or expand it, Potts said.